HI-TECH expertise in Southampton has tempted French firm Bureau Veritas on to the acquisition trail this side of the Channel.

The French company has just bought engineering and management consultancy ATL Consulting Group.

Based in The Avenue at Southampton, ATL Consulting was originally set up by members of the University's sound and vibration research department.

Ten years ago the company was bought from owner the Peek Group and now directors Geoff Baker and Roger Smith have sold to the French giant which has a global presence.

In a strange twist the advisors ten years ago have both been involved in this latest deal.

At that time the deal was orchestrated by Harry Dhand who was working for 3i in Southampton, with Douglas Cooper from Paris Smith & Randall acting as legal advisor.

Mr Dhand, now at corporate finance boutique DHD, said the directors have been extremely successful in growing and developing the company since the original buyout and ten years on he said the sale represented a good platform for the company to develop into its next phase. Director Mr Baker said the move was the right one for the company.

"Becoming part of Bureau Veritas will enable the group to grow significantly through the global network and as a result will create tremendous career opportunities for our employees.''

ATL Consulting provides specialist services worldwide to the energy and process industries and currently employs 60 consultants based in Southampton, Aberdeen and Canada.

Bureau Veritas was created in 1828 and is an international service company with more than 100,000 clients in 150 countries worldwide.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.